July 18, 2024
The Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression (AFTE) condemns the enforced disappearance of journalist Khaled Mamdouh since the early hours of July 16 and calls on the Ministry of Interior to immediately release him, allowing his family and lawyer to communicate with him. AFTE holds the Ministry of Interior fully responsible for Khaled Mamdouh’s safety in light of the repeated incidents of journalists being arrested and persecuted by security forces.
AFTE has filed a complaint with the Attorney General, numbered 846067 for the year 2024, detailing the events of security forces raiding the home of journalist Khaled Mamdouh and taking him to an unknown place. In the complaint, AFTE stated that a security force raided Khaled Mamdouh’s home on July 16, searched it randomly, and refused to disclose their identities, their affiliation, or the reason for his arrest. His family has been unable to determine his place of detention or communicate with him since then.
Four hours after the raid on Mamdouh’s home, the security forces returned, detained those inside the house, prevented them from leaving, and confiscated mobile phones, laptops, and all belongings of Mamdouh, according to the complaint filed with the Attorney General.
Mohamed Abdel Salam, the Executive Director of The Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression, said, “While promises from officials about releasing journalists held in pre-trial detention continue, security agencies persist in targeting new journalists and violating the law without accountability.” Abdel Salam added, “The Attorney General must immediately investigate the crime of enforced disappearance of journalist Khaled Mamdouh.”
Khaled Mamdouh worked as a journalist and presenter for MBC channels and spent many years in the European program of Egyptian Radio. His family has taken several actions, including sending telegrams to the Minister of Interior and filing a complaint with the Journalists’ Syndicate regarding the raid on his home and his detention.
AFTE renews its call for the Ministry of Interior to immediately reveal journalist Khaled Mamdouh’s place of detention, allow his family and lawyer to communicate with him, and release him. AFTE also stresses the need to respect journalists’ rights and protect them from the continuous violations they face during their journalistic work.
